Pictures: Palmer Elementary bilingual class

Judith Lowery / Daily Press

Teacher Carmen Rodriguez, left, calls out math in Spanish and Christopher Gonzalez writes the answer on the board. Palmer Elementary has an unusual bilingual program. Half the kids are native English speakers, half native Spanish speakers, but they all take classes together, half taught in English and half in Spanish.

Teacher Carmen Rodriguez, left, calls out math in Spanish and Christopher Gonzalez writes the answer on the board. Palmer Elementary has an unusual bilingual program. Half the kids are native English speakers, half native Spanish speakers, but they all take classes together, half taught in English and half in Spanish. (Judith Lowery / Daily Press)

Selena Martinez uses a "talk to self" phone to more clearly heard the words as she reads aloud to herself. Palmer Elementary has an unusual bilingual program. Half the kids are native English speakers, half native Spanish speakers, but they all take classes together, half taught in English and half in Spanish.

Selena Martinez uses a "talk to self" phone to more clearly heard the words as she reads aloud to herself. Palmer Elementary has an unusual bilingual program. Half the kids are native English speakers, half native Spanish speakers, but they all take classes together, half taught in English and half in Spanish. (Judith Lowery / Daily Press)